East of Eden

Are people born good or evil? Are these qualities immutable? Explain your reasoning.

Why does Steinbeck structure his novel around two different families (the Hamiltons and the Trasks)? What contrasts do the families embody, and how do those contrasts help Steinbeck develop his theme(s)?

What role does the narrator play in this novel? Extrapolate the narrator’s purpose, using evidence from the text.